Longtime assistant Melissa Norvell took over the reins of the varsity cheerleading program over the summer.

Norvell had been an assistant coach in charge of the Stags B team, as well as head secretary and bookkeeper at Berkeley Middle School for seven years.

A 1995 Berkeley High graduate, Norvell is proud to take over a program for which she cheered as a high school student.

“I’m honored to be a part of a program that has meant so much to me,” she said. “I cheered for BHS all four years of high school.”

As summer winds down Norvell and her staff are ready for school to start and the whistles to blow.

“I am excited about football season starting and showing off all of the hard work the girls have put in so far. I am going to put forth as much effort and time needed to get the cheerleading program built back up and prove to everyone that cheerleading is as much of a sport as any other.”

Norvell said that while her cheerleaders won’t pursue competitive cheerleading at the moment, that could change.

“These girls work hard at what they do and deserve recognition for what they do,” she said.

Norvell said working in her hometown makes her job that much more special.

“I was born and raised in Moncks Corner and love being part of the town and programs that I grew up around.”

The cheerleaders decided to stay at home this summer for their camp, taking part in former Berkeley and Clemson cheerleader Catrina Morrison’s UCA cheerleading camp at BMS.

Norvell said the girls had a blast.

“This is the first cheerleading camp that most of the cheerleaders have ever attended. They had a great time learning from the UCA instructors. During the camp they learned many new cheers, dances, chants, and above all team bonding.”

The camp culminated in a last night lock-in at the school, a celebration of a great week.

“It was a tremendous bonding experience between all three squads,’ Norvell said.”The girls had a blast and ended up with three very tired coaches. We plan to make this an annual tradition.”

Assisting Norvell are Brittany tuozzolo and Samanth Paschall. Tuozzolo coaches the JV squad. In her first year Tuozzolo teaches sixth grade math at Berkeley Middle School.

Paschall, the B Team Coach, is also in her first year with the Stags and teaches sixth grade math at BMS.

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